A leading filmmaker has warned that Australian culture is in danger of being totally engulfed unless the Government moves to protect it under the free trade agreement with the United States. Director and producer George Miller won international attention for his 'Mad Max' and 'Babe' movies. He says the local film and television industry is already losing its Australian identity and its international impact. He says that unless action is taken to strengthen Australian content and protect it, there is a danger the industry could disappear within a decade.

Compere: Tony JonesReporter: Anne Maria Nicholson

TONY JONES: A leading filmmaker has warned that Australian culture is in danger of being totally engulfed unless the government moves to protect it under the free trade agreement with the United States.

Director and producer George Miller won international attention for his 'Mad Max' and 'Babe' movies.

He says the local film and television industry is already losing its Australian identity and its international impact.

Dr Millar told reporter Anne Maria Nicholson that unless action is taken to strengthen Australian content and protect it, there is a danger the industry could disappear within a decade.

ANNE MARIA NICHOLSON: For nearly 30 years, George Miller has straddled the movie industries in Australia and Hollywood, winning international acclaim for his 'Mad Max' and 'Babe' films.

Here to honour screen composers at the APRA awards, he said the local industry is in serious decline.

GEORGE MILLER, DIRECTOR: We're not working in the Australian voice.

And if you're not heard, it'll become - it'll fade away to black.

You can see it happening already.

I mean, we haven't had one significant film in competition at Cannes in recent years.

We haven't had any really major breakthrough films overseas.

New Zealand has a voice.

New Zealand are making some extraordinary films at the moment.

ANNE MARIA NICHOLSON: His concerns were echoed by others, including composer Nigel Westlake whose film score for 'The Nugget' won the best feature award.

NIGEL WESTLAKE, COMPOSER: I've been working now in the industry for about 12 years, it's actually the worst I've seen it.

And veterans in the industry say they haven't seen it this bad for 30 years, just the lack of production.

ANNE MARIA NICHOLSON: That low production is just one factor.

Of greater greater concern, insiders feel threatened by a government apparently willing to use the new media output of the film and television industries as a bargaining chip in the free trade negotiations with the United States.

GEORGE MILLER: It'll be very easy for the Government to put it aside because it doesn't mean any votes.

And it really won't have an effect for another decade.

But when you have the new generations of kids becoming basically honorary American in their culture.

I mean, my kids know more about American culture than they do about our own.

Simply because of the onslaught of American culture.

And so in 10 years time, we'll look around and we'll be virtually another state of the United States, at least culturally.

So it's incredibly critical that somehow it is protected.

We have enough pride in ourselves to say that we have unique voices.

ANNE MARIA NICHOLSON: George Miller is ideally placed to assess the threat.

He was in the vanguard of Australian film-makers who started making their mark on Hollywood in the '70s.

He continues to be in demand for producing high budget movies.

GEORGE MILLER: When I first went to America in 1976, they re-dubbed our movies.

They were surprised we spoke Australian.

Now we have a number of Australian stars working overseas, but almost all of them are working in foreign accents.

ANNE MARIA NICHOLSON: While the winning composers basked in a moment's glory last night, they also acknowledged they faced a hard road ahead.

Anne Maria Nicholson, Lateline.

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